Bighorn Outdoors 1500F Portable Infrared Steak and Pizza Oven Review

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Bighorn Outdoors 1500F Portable Infrared Steak and Pizza Oven Review

I hit a personal first today: enjoying a perfectly baked pizza and, just minutes later, landing a 17” brook trout on the fly. While that combination was new to me, it definitely won’t be the last. The Bighorn Outdoors 1500 Degree F Infrared Steak & Pizza Oven is coming with me on many future adventures.

Bighorn Outdoors has been committed to outdoor cooking since 2012. The company began with a mission to build the ultimate high-temperature pizza oven, and has since expanded its lineup to include grills, camping stoves, and backyard staples like chimineas. Through this evolution, they’ve kept a focus on rugged, durable products built to handle real outdoor conditions.

As an avid outdoorsman, I love cooking my catch and game. So when the opportunity came to cook at temperatures approaching 1500 degrees using the Bighorn Outdoors 1500 Degree F Infrared Steak & Pizza Oven, I jumped at it. Over the past few weeks, I’ve put this oven through its paces with a variety of foods hoping to find new techniques and flavors for some of my favorite meals.

About the Bighorn Outdoors 1500F Infrared Steak & Pizza Oven

Bighorn Outdoors offers two infrared oven options: a 9″ model and a larger 16″ model. I tested the 16″, which measures 16″ wide, 12.5″ deep, and 15.5″ tall, with a front tray that extends the total depth to 21.7″. The entire unit is constructed from stainless steel for durability in outdoor environments.

Bighorn Outdoors 1500F Portable Infrared Steak and Pizza Oven Assembled

Fully Assembled

This oven runs on propane and connects easily to standard full-size tanks. Using infrared heating, it reaches temperatures up to an impressive 1500°F. Inside, two stainless steel trays can be positioned across 10 different rack height options, giving you flexibility to cook everything from steak, burgers, and seafood to vegetables and pizza. The 16″ model also includes a pizza stone. A rack tool is provided for safely adjusting hot racks during cooking.

Bighorn Outdoors 1500F Portable Infrared Steak and Pizza Oven Pizza Stone

Pizza Stone

The oven ignites using a turn-style electric starter, and a drip pan at the base allows you to cook directly on the racks without mess. It includes a propane hose adapter compatible with common 5 lb. propane tanks.

Bighorn Outdoors 1500F Portable Infrared Steak and Pizza Oven Igniter and Control Knob

Igniter and Control Knob

Bighorn Outdoors 1500F Portable Infrared Steak and Pizza Oven Drip Pan

Drip Pan

Cleanup is simple, the racks and drip tray are dishwasher safe. Bighorn Outdoors backs this oven with a 30-day return policy, a 2-year warranty, and free U.S. shipping.

Thoughts on the Bighorn Outdoors 1500F Infrared Steak & Pizza Oven

The Bighorn Outdoors 1500 Degree is a fun little grill. I love cooking outdoors, whether at work, at home, or on the trail. This oven has proven surprisingly versatile with a lot of upside.

Easy Assembly

Assembly was simple. I handed the job to my 9-year-old, who loves putting things together, and he knocked it out in about 15 minutes. Once assembled, we fired it up right away. Over the years I’ve learned it’s smart to let a new grill run for a bit before cooking anything, and doing so here burned off any residual factory smells before our first meal.

Outdoor Pizza

My first real outing with the grill was at one of our favorite mountain lakes. The oven weighs around 25 lbs. and fits perfectly in the back of our camper van, so it’s ideal for road trips. Once at the lake, setup was basically nonexistent. Turn the dial, press down, twist, and the infrared element kicks on instantly. As someone who had never used an infrared cooker before, I was shocked at how fast it heats up. There’s essentially zero preheat time; it warms faster than you can unpack your ingredients.

We kicked things off with pizza. The kids designed their own pies, and within about 45 seconds each pizza was fully cooked. We experimented with the pizza stone and rack heights, and while there’s a little trial and error involved, everything came out great. One badly shaped pizza even turned into a calzone and it still tasted incredible. After lunch we headed out on the lake, and I managed to pull in a solid brook trout. I don’t think I’ve ever made an outdoor pizza and then minutes later landed a fish like that. I’m absolutely looking forward to more days like that.

Bighorn Outdoors 1500F Portable Infrared Steak and Pizza Oven Testing

Pizza Ready To Go In

Bighorn Outdoors 1500F Portable Infrared Steak and Pizza Oven Baking

Hot Baking!

Post Pizza Brookie

Post Pizza Brookie

High-Temp Steaks in the Bighorn Outdoors 1500F Infrared Oven

Back home, I tested the grill on one of its marquee foods: steak. This fall I was fortunate to take a great bull elk, so I had some beautiful steaks ready for the Bighorn. I did a light marinade with salt and pepper, cranked the oven to high, and placed the steak near the top rack. At 1500 degrees, the cook time is incredibly short at maybe two minutes total with one flip at the 60-second mark. The included rack tool is fantastic; it hooks onto the tray securely and gives full control without worrying about the blazing-hot metal.

Bighorn Outdoors 1500F Portable Infrared Steak and Pizza Oven Steak Cooking

Steaks Ready To Go In

Bighorn Outdoors 1500F Portable Infrared Steak and Pizza Oven Steak Searing

Getting That Sear

With wild game, the leaner meat benefits from a touch more fat during high-temp cooking. My marinade had olive oil, but next time I’ll use a higher-heat oil or a light coat of butter for extra crackle. Even so, the elk steak was phenomenal: an awesome crust on the outside with a juicy interior. I’m excited to keep experimenting with fish, burgers, and other cuts.

Bighorn Outdoors 1500F Portable Infrared Steak and Pizza Oven Steak Cooked Perfection

Perfection

Easy to Clean

After a few sessions, I tested the cleanup process. The racks and drip tray popped out easily, rinsed off in seconds, and came out of the dishwasher looking brand new. With kids and plenty of other chores in life, simple cleanup is a huge plus.

Outstanding Quality with One Small Gripe

Overall, the build quality of the Bighorn Outdoors 1500 Degree is excellent, especially for the price. My only complaint is the grounding chain, it has broken a few times and the links don’t stay together well. A sturdier wire or heavier chain would be an improvement.

Spec Sheet: Bighorn Outdoors 1500 °F Infrared Steak & Pizza Oven (16″) Taken From Bighorn Outdoors

  • Model: 16-inch version (with pizza stone)
  • Fuel type: Propane gas 
  • Maximum temperature: Up to 1500 °F (≈ 800 °C) reached in about 3–5 minutes 
  • Burner power: 19,000 BTU 
  • Dimensions (16″ model): 16″ deep × 21.5″ wide × 15.4″ tall 
  • Weight (approximate): ~32 lbs for the 16″ model 
  • Material / Construction: Stainless steel body for outdoor durability 
  • Rack system: Two stainless steel cooking grates with built-in notches offering 10 levels of rack positions (for different foods) 
  • Included accessories (16″ model): Pizza stone, adapter hose, assembly accessories 
  • Cleaning / Maintenance: Detachable racks and drip tray; dishwasher-safe components for quick cleanup 
  • Warranty / Returns: 24-month (2-year) warranty and 30-day return guarantee on purchases from official site 
  • Portability / Package: Dimensions L 16 in × W 25 in × H 15.4

Final Thoughts on the Bighorn Outdoors 1500F Infrared Oven

The Bighorn Outdoors dual-use grill delivers impressive versatility for anyone who enjoys both grilling and smoking without switching equipment. Its durable steel construction, generous cooking capacity, and ability to run on multiple fuel types make it a highly capable backyard or campsite companion. While it isn’t the lightest unit to move around, and temperature management takes some practice, the overall performance and feature set provide excellent value. For those seeking a reliable, multi-function outdoor cooker that can handle everything from quick sears to long smoking sessions, this grill is a solid choice. For more info or to check one out for yourself, visit bighornoutdoors.com or amazon.com.

Bennett Colvin

Bennett Colvin lives in Steamboat, Colorado and is an avid fisherman, hiker, skier, and outdoorsman. Bennett instructs fly fishing and runs youth fly fishing programs. He also is a professional fly tier and ties publicly at fly shops and expos.

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